This is our seventh annual project highlighting the generous and often innovative efforts of the Asia-Pacific region's most notable givers. We feature biotech entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who's working to improve cancer care in India.

OUR INABILITY TO SOMETIMES FACE AND ACT ON OBVIOUS TRUTHS IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST DISTURBING ASPECTS OF THE HUMAN RACE. I WONDER WHY WE INSIST ON BEING TRAPPED IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR IN THE HOPE THAT THE PAST WILL RETURN TO BE OUR FUTURE. THAT IS NOT THE WAY THE WORLD HAS BEEN OR WILL BE.

Traditional Indian Information Technology (IT) industry could do much better if it learns to leverage the vast talent pool in the country to create knowledge-based services, HCL Chief Executive Officer Vineet Nayar said.

The immigrant perspective on business leadership embraces transparency, trust, individuality, risk, social responsibility, the entrepreneurial attitude, one’s passion and a promise to be a community-minded leader in the workplace (just to name a few). We are transitioning from a knowledge-based to a wisdom-based economy. It’s not only about what you know, but what you do with what you know.